Consequences of Leaving The Scene After Hit And Run Accident

If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident is not a good thing for either party involved. Why the victim is left injured and alone? The defendant who left the scene of the accident will face penalties by law when caught. It is never a good idea to leave the scene of an accident. Even if no one else was involved, you will still be penalized for doing so. It is always best to contact help and law enforcement right away and go through the process of dealing with what happened. While you may still face consequences they will be far less serious than those faced when convicted of a hit-and-run. To clarify, a hit-and-run consists of an automobile accident including other drivers, animals, or inanimate objects where the at-fault driver leaves the scene before law enforcement has assessed and recorded the situation. It can also happen anywhere, not just a road. If you are leaving a parking lot, after hitting a parked car falls into this category.

While the penalties for this crime vary they are all serious. Depending on how serious the accident you could face jail time as well as a fine. You will most definitely receive a suspension on your license. The fine for a hit-and-run will be at least $5000 but can reach sums as big as $20000, if not more. A person involved in a hit-and-run that caused bodily injury to someone could be sentenced to at least 15 years in prison. As for your driving privileges these normally consist of suspension anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. This increases if you are charged with same thing more than once. In fact, if you are charged with a hit-and-run more than once you could face losing your license permanently.

On top of facing punishment from the Canadian law, you may also be sued.

A victim injured in a hit-and-run accident can sue the defendant for damages incurred. The total amount of damages varies depending on the severity and can even be triple the awarded sum. Keep in mind that auto insurance companies will not pay for any restitution ordered by the court that is considered punitive. This type of settlement is the responsibility of the guilty party. Be prepared for your auto insurance company to drop you as well. This is often the case when hit-and-run claims have been proven.

As stated before, it is never a good idea to leave the scene of an accident. Not only does it further endanger anyone who was involved with the accident but it will also mean legal problems for the at-fault party later down the line. It is better to deal with the accident when it occurs then to face the life-ruining consequences, once you are caught after leaving the scene. Thus, even if you are at fault, it is better to deal with the law enforcement after calling in your lawyer than going away from the scene of the accident.